The Official Website for Sir Geoff Hurst

Profile: 1966 and all that

As well as being the title for Sir Geoff's autobiography, '1966 and all that' suggests that there were other events and developments going on in the world when England won the World Cup. Here are a few snippets to remind you of the world as it was in 1966.

Cassius Clay beats Henry Cooper

Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) ends Henry Cooper's hopes of winning the world heavyweight championship. The Brit's hopes are dashed one minute and 38 seconds into the sixth round when a deep gash over his left eye forces the referee to stop the fight and declare 24-year-old Clay the champion.

The Aberfan Disaster

The Aberfan Disaster buries a junior school in Aberfan, Wales, killing 148 people, mostly children. A landslide of mud and waste sludge, created from the local Merthyr Vale Colliery, stands at 700ft high before it collapses and buries the school.

Lunar Landings

The Soviet Union becomes the first country to land on the moon when the Russian probe Luna 9 has a successful soft landing on 3rd February, 1966.

The Little Red Book

One of the best selling books of all time 'The Little Red Book', a collection of quotations by the Chinese leader Mao Zedong, goes on sale. Every Chinese adult is forced to own a copy and 900 million are printed between 1966 and 1971.

Out of Time

Chris Farlowe reaches the number one spot in the UK Charts with his hit single 'Out of Time'. The song was first released on the The Rolling Stones album, Aftermath, but Chris's cover, produced by Mick Jagger, peaks at number one in the UK singles chart on 28 July 1966 and stays at the top for one week.

Nationwide Seamen's Strike

The British government declares a state of emergency following the start of the nationwide seamen's strike. The state of emergency allows the Royal Navy to take control and clear the ports and lift restrictions on vehicles to allow for the free movement of goods.

Labour win election

Labour had won the 1964 general election with a narrow majority of four seats. This was an insufficient parliamentary majority to last for a full term so a second election is held in March 1966. Harold Wilson remains as Prime Minister with a majority of 96 seats for the Labour Party.

New Drink Driving Laws

Following increasing numbers of accidents caused through drink driving, the British government introduces a blood alcohol limit for drivers of 80mg of alcohol in 100cc of blood (0.08%).

Moors Murderers Convicted

The Moors murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, are jailed for life for the murders of three children (Edward Evans, 17, Lesley Ann Downey, 10, and John Kilbride, 12). The pair had lured the children into their home in Manchester to torture and kill them.

Twiggy is the Face of 1966

Twiggy is voted British Woman of the Year and named 'The Face of 1966' by the Daily Express. By 1967, Twiggy would model in France, Japan, and the USA and grace the covers of Vogue and The Tatler, making the model a familiar face across the world.

Independence for Barbados, Botswana and Lesotho

The Caribbean island, Barbados, gains independence from Great Britain and, in Africa, Botswana (formerly The British Protectorate of Bechuanaland) and Lesotho (formerly Basutoland) also gain their independence.